Rowing Terms and Info

What is the difference between a 'Head' race and a 'Sprint' race?

From late September through early November the team competes in a number “head race” regattas throughout the Northwest. Head races are run over a course of 5-7 kilometers. Instead of being a distance race, it’s raced against the clock, with the goal being to have the fastest overall time with as few penalties as possible. Crews start 10-15 seconds apart, allowing for faster crews to overtake slower ones along the course. Due to the length of the race, the cadence is much lower when compared to a sprint race. Head races are aptly nicknamed “the coxswain’s race” due to the winding turns along the course. Navigating these turns as efficiently as possible aids the crew in achieving a fast overall time. In comparison to the spring season, the fall season is usually shorter in duration. SERC usually competes in three-to-four races during the Fall season, ending in early November with the Head of the Lake regatta in Seattle.

In contrast to the fall, the spring season is made up of shorter sprint-style races. Sprint races cover a straight course of 1-2 kilometers. They’re rowed somewhere between six and eight minutes and at a much higher stroke rate than their head racing counterparts. The goal of the race is to cross the finish line first, similar to a track and field race. Anywhere from 4-8 boats are lined up at the starting line, either through a floating start or on stake boats. The starting marshal will utilize one of the various starting calls followed by “Attention, GO!” to begin the race. The race is an all out sprint. The season itself lasts from early March until the middle of May. SERC usually competes in four or five races during that period, including the NW Regional Championships in Vancouver, WA. The training is much more intense and unlike fall racing, begins a few months before the actual season starts, during a period known as “winter” training. During winter training SERC participates in land training only.

What do you call that part of the boat?

Outside The Boat

The boats (or shells) are basically of two types and reflect the two forms of rowing: sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing each rower handles a single oar (about 12.5 ft or 3.9 m long). In sculling a rower uses two oars, or sculls, (each about 9.5 ft or 3 m long). Each rower has his or her back to the direction the boat is moving; power is generated using a blended sequence of the rower’s legs, back and arms. The rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track called the slide.

Boat – the boat itself; sometimes referred to as the shell.

Bowball – small rubber ball that covers the end of the bow; intended to prevent/reduce damage upon collision.

Fin – the fin under the stern of the boat which helps to keep the boat on course.

Rudder – a small, movable part, usually metal, that sits under the stern of the boat; allows the coxswain to steer the boat.

Inside The Boat

Originally made of wood (some still are) rowing shells are now usually made with layers of carbon fibre, fibreglass and plastic. These boats are extremely lightweight and narrow, allowing the rowers to slice through the water. Each rower sits on a sliding seat that rolls on wheels along a fixed track called the slide. The rowers wear shoes which are bolted onto footplates in the boat. Each oar is held in place by riggers, which extend from the saxboard. The rigger holds the gate in which the oar sits. The gate is carefully set up so that the oar is held in the water with a specific amount of pitch or tilt. This is usually about 5 degrees at the midpoint of the stroke although it does not change through the stroke.

Cox Box – a device used by the cox, consisting of a microphone and speakers, that amplifies the cox’s voice throughout the boat during the race.

Footplate or Stretcher – fixture in boat that contains shoes screwed into a piece of wood. This contraption holds the rower’s feet into the boat and is the only part of the boat where the rower is firmly attached.

Gate – the small plastic part at the end of the rigger that opens at the top. The rower opens the gate, places the oar into it, then shuts the top metal bar, screwing it tightly shut. The gate holds the oar in place during the rowing stroke.

Rigger – The metal support attached to the saxboard that holds the gate.

Saxboard – this is the top side of the boat, the edges onto which the riggers are bolted.

Slide – the tracks underneath each seat which the wheels of the seat slide on, allowing the rower to move back and forth in the boat, utilising their full leg power.

The Rowers

Each person in the boat has a position, starting in the bow. The person closest to the bow is called bow seat. Every other seat is called by the number of the seat, except the lead rower, who is the stroke. For example a crew in a four would be referred to as bow, 2, 3, stroke. In an eight it would be bow, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, stroke.

Rowers (sometimes called sweep) have one oar each, while scullers have two oars each.

The boat is steered by the Coxswain (cox) or by the bow seat (in boats without a coxswain – called “coxless” boats). Cox’s use the rudder to steer the boat, which they control using cables that are connected to it. The cox is also responsible for motivating the rowers, helping them keep their pace, helping to correct technique and to unify the crew.